It’s been nearly six months since the inaugural TTXGP race at the Isle of Man, but electric motorcycle racing seems to be a growing subject as of late. As discussion surrounds both the FIM and TTXGP, and their respective series, we’re beginning to see teams make their 2010 racing commitments. We reached out to Michael Czysz of MotoCzysz to see why his company has been suspiciously silent on the issue to date.
With the TTXGP’s first stop scheduled at Infineon in only five months’ time, and rumors of a new lighter and more powerful MotoCzysz design already being hinted at, we asked Czysz where his company stands now as it furthers its racing program.
“At the moment our ‘racing program’ is totally up in the air,” Czysz responds. “It is difficult to have a solid race plan when the series(s) themselves are in such flux. The current state of the series(s) and overall professionalism really hinders everyone’s ability to do their best. The e brand is being damaged, it is hard to speak to sponsors and racers about this ‘great opportunity’ when there is not even a firm schedule in place.”
For all the electric startups, there are challenges in not only the day-to-day business tasks, product development, etc, but also in the electric motorcycle space, there is the added requirement of taking on the challenges competing on the race track. For MotoCzysz, and of course the rest of the field, money is the biggest concern to these budget strapped startups.
“It is very difficult to find sponsors for racing, it is even more difficult to convince investors to spend money racing,” as Czysz knows all to well from putting together teams for both MotoGP and electric motorcycle racing. “However, if the goal of your company is to be at the forefront of what could be the next wave of performance, racing is essential. Today, e racing is at best a novelty; it is not on the radar of large sponsors, manufactures or in the heart of most race fans. Only under the best circumstances can companies like ours find the resources to race; the current e series(s) are not providing those circumstances.”
After hearing about the announcements from Zero Motorcycles & Mission Motors, all eyes are now on the Portland based company to see when it will announce similar statements. Prodding Czysz for a hint on when we could hear such news, he seemed willing to hedge his bets for now, “apparently Zero and Mission had sufficient information to make their decisions, but we do not. I have traded several emails with the FIM, but none of substance with Azhar or his team.”
When asked directly about which series MotoCzysz would pick, Czysz’s reply was both coy and terse, and simply stated, “I do not know. I am still searching for answers.”
Talking to MCN‘s Guy Procter, Czysz does hint that the conflicts that surround both the FIM and TTXGP are factors in MotoCzysz’s hesitation to join either series. Telling the British magazine in their article, “a successful race series must have a sanctioning body, which protects competitiveness and manufactures interest and a promoter that can market and grow the series. These are separate and exclusive functions, and with the joint TTXGP/FIM venture they could have had that, for the short term at least. Look at American Superbike racing for a lesson.”
We still have a lot of winter left before motorcycle racing starts up again, but it would seem things are already heating up in the electric sector. More as we get it.
Source: MCN
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